| October 2009 Newsletter |
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| Written by Doug Andrew | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, 10 November 2009 19:40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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APCO Member & Chapter Services Monthly E-Newsletter October 2009
Greetings to the APCO Chapter & Affiliates that I support as part of my duties with the APCO Member and Chapter Services Committee.
Colorado Chapter Montana Chapter Wyoming Chapter
*****CHAPTER OFFICERS***** Please present this information to your chapter members electronically and at meetings or presentations.
2010 Membership Renewal
The 2010 membership renewal is about to begin. Please encourage your members to renew online. The more members renew online, the greater the cost savings in the processing of invoices by reducing labor, postage and printing costs.
Chapter Membership Lists Just a reminder to all Chapter Presidents and Secretaries it is now possible to download your chapter membership list at any time. This capability will replace the monthly chapter listings you have been receiving. For more information or questions contact Jackie Bender at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Membership Numbers as of October 6, 2009.
46 New members during the month of September 2009.
Top new individual categories: Telecommunicator/Dispatcher 52% Other 10% Manager 10% Professional Communications Human Resources Taskforce (PRO-CHRT)
The Professional Communications Human Resources Taskforce (PRO-CHRT) was established by the APCO Board of Officers to gather information, study and prepare reference materials on 9-1-1 public safety communications human resources and recognition issues throughout the country such as certification requirements and retirement benefit eligibility. This is an APCO association wide undertaking and to assist PRO-CHRT complete these objectives the taskforce is looking for websites and/or links to the following information:
If yes, where can we find them? (Website, link, etc.)
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Upcoming 2010 Regional Conferences and Events
2010 Western Regional APCO Conference January 20 – 22, 2010
The Colorado Chapter of APCO invites you to the 2010 Western Regional Conference. The conference will be held in Denver, the Mile High City, at the Denver Convention Center Hyatt Regency Hotel January 20-22, 2010. Register for the “Last Dispatcher Standing” comedy competition. Show off your skills and compete against other dispatchers in a standup comedy competition. If you are really funny you could win your attendance at the next national APCO conference in Houston, TX. For information on how to register for the conference and the comedy competition visit the conference website at: http://www.apco-co.org/WRC2010/ Hotel reservations for the conference are now available online. Single/double rooms for all attendees and exhibitors are just $149.00 per night. To access the group reservation page, go to the following link: https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=526277
2010 Eastern Regional APCO Conference April 25 – 29, 2010 5400 John Q. Hammons Drive NW Concord, North Carolina 28027
The North Carolina Chapter of APCO invites you to the 2010 East Coast Regional Conference.
The conference will be held at the beautiful Embassy Suites and Conference Center in the greater Charlotte, NC area April 25-29, 2010. You can view the hotel and amenities at www.embassysuitesconcord.com. The room rates are $154.00 per night and includes a full buffet breakfast each morning and a cocktail reception each evening.
The link for registering with the hotel is: http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/CLTCCES-APC-20100424/index.jhtml
APCO International Winter Technology Summit January 25 – 27, 2010
Explore New Technology at the APCO International Winter Technology Summit APCO’s only technology-focused event of the year provides expert knowledge for executives, operations and technology professionals working in public safety communications. It’s information you won’t find anywhere else! Make plans to attend the APCO Winter Technology Summit today!
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APCO International Public-Safety Communications Award Program
It is never too early to start thinking about nominations for the APCO International Public Safety Communications Award program! The Awards committee needs your help in spreading the word to be sure to recognize those who have served so well.
The award categories are:
Telecommunicator of the Year Communications Center Director of the Year Line Supervisor of the Year Radio Frequency (RF) Technologist of the Year Information Technologist of the Year Trainer of the Year
Nominations for 2010 will be accepted from January 2 through April 1, 2010.
To avoid confusion there will only be one nomination form accepted this year.
For up to date information go to: http://www.apcointl.org/new/membership/awards.php
~~~~~~~~~~ Public Safety Communications Needs You!
Everyone has a story to tell. Is your chapter planning a conference, a banquet to celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, an awards ceremony or training event? Tell us about it.
APCO members want to celebrate your achievements and milestones with you. So let us know what your chapter is up to. Please include us on your chapter mailing list, add me to your listservs and send us photos and short captions.
If you've got a longer story to share, check out our full author guidelines at http://www.apcointl.com/services/bulletin/contributing.html.
Remember, Public Safety Communications is your magazine, and we want to tell your story. Contact Keri Losavio, Editor of APCO’s at Public Safety Communications at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 800/266-5367 x6574.
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Project 33 - MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS On July 1, 2009 a press release was issued by APCO for comments to the revision to the P33 standard to identify minimum training requirements for public safety telecommunicators. The revision includes information for those typically charged with receiving, processing, transmitting, and conveying public safety information to dispatchers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, emergency medical and emergency management personnel. This document seeks to define training in certain knowledge, skills, and abilities to be provided to telecommunicators by the agency, allowing different agencies to comply with the portions of the standard applicable to the functions within their agency. The revisions were facilitated by APCO International's Call Center Standards Committee, which is made up of public safety communications subject matter experts from across the U.S. The final draft will be presented to the APCO International Executive Council for ratification. Following their approval, the final document will be facilitated through APCO International's American National Standards (ANS) process to become an American National Standards Institute- (ANSI) approved standard. The final standard is tentatively planned to receive approval in December 2009. To read more on the latest revisions go to: http://www.apcointl.org/about/911/downloads/P33_Guidelines.pdf
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APCO Institute News
New Training Courses
Public Safety Communications Staffing and Employee Retention It is common knowledge that the public safety communications industry has suffered from an inability to effectively recruit and maintain employees. This in turn has required Communications Centers across the country to invest millions of dollars in a vicious cycle of continuous recruitment, training new hires and overtime that merely addresses the symptoms of this issue and not the core problem. Designed to provide guidance and information to Communications Center employees at every level, this course provides over 300 tips, guidelines and effective practices on subjects ranging from creating effective shift schedules to candidate recruitment and from maintaining staff to employee recognition. This course will be offered 3 weeks online beginning 12/1/2009 and will be available for co-hosting beginning 1/15/2010. Contact Vicki Menzel at 888-272-6911 or menzelv@apco911.org
Customer Service in Today’s Public Communications Center Providing satisfactory customer service in the high energy, often high stress field of public safety communications, is paramount to successful performance in this profession, both for the individual telecommunicator as well as the agency they represent. This course addresses all aspects of customer service and how it impacts our industry. Although intangible, it is a critical component that must be understood and applied in excellence to every situation. 3 week online classes begin on 11/1/2009 and 12/30/2009. To register go to: http://www.apcointl.com/institute/schedule_registration.htm
The Response Network (TRN) is now offering a breakthrough and very affordable In-Service Online Training Program, available exclusively for one simple annual subscription fee of $74.95 per-user. For more information go to: http://policecommunity.net/documents/TRNBrochure.pdf
APCO Institute Leadership Certificate Program (RPL)
Thinking about becoming a Registered Public Safety Leader? RPL recipients receive a certificate of acceptance into the APCO Institute Registry of Public-Safety Leaders, a formal and prestigious acknowledgement of excellence within our industry. The RPL Program is a series of online courses offered by APCO Institute, in cooperation with Flexstudy.com, the American Management Association’s e-learning provider. You’ll learn how to Communication with Authority, Build and Manage High-Performance Teams, Break Down the Barriers to solid Interpersonal Negotiations, and Enhance Team Performance.
Lead with Confidence and Integrity; Make a Difference Within our Association and our Industry.
For information on scholarships and an application go to: http://www.apcointl.com/institute/RPL_program.htm.
The next RPL class starts January 20, 2010.
Currently Scheduled Web Seminars Your Policies & Procedures Manual: For more information and registration go to: http://www.apcointl.com/institute/webinars.htm
Order Your APCO-oply Game Today! Place your order for APCO International's 75th Anniversary Edition of APCO-opoly! Download our order form today at http://www.apcointl.org/new/resources/pdf/APCO-opoly%20Order%20Form.pdf to have your order shipped by December 1st. APCO-opoly will be available in time for the holidays and makes a great gift for communication center personnel or your Chapter Officers. The cost is: $24.99 per game for order quantities under 20, $22.49 per game for order quantities under 50, $19.99 per game for order quantities 50 or more. Chapter Conferences
When your chapter conference is coming up, please use the Chapter Event Assistance Form to request APCO brochures and give-aways. This form ensures that we’ve got the correct shipping information and understand the quantities you need. Also, have your chapter conference listed on the APCO calendar by contacting Ann Russo in Membership services. For more information go to: http://www.apco911.org/new/membership/calendar.php
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Chapter Officer Information
We know that many chapters hold their election of officers during the autumn and winter months. Please use the Chapter Contact Info Update Form to help keep leadership records current. You can download this form at: http://www.apco911.org/new/membership/chapters.php
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Chapter CCAM Representative Info
Many chapters have changed their CCAM’s recently. Please confirm and pass along to your MCSC representative your current CCAM representative info so that the records can remain current and your chapter has access to this vital resource.
Here to serve.
As your Chapter Representative on the Member & Chapter Services Committee please feel free to contact me with any questions or issues you feel I could be a help with. If there are any upcoming events or other information you would like posted in this newsletter, do not hesitate to forward the information to me and it will be forwarded to the committee for review and inclusion in upcoming newsletters. I may not know all the answers but I can certainly help to get you headed in the right direction.
Kimberly Kimberly D. Burdick, RPL Kimberly D. Burdick, RPL Member & Chapter Services Committee Communications Manager Serving the Colorado, Montana Chouteau County Sheriff’s Office and Wyoming Chapters 1215 Washington Fort Benton, MT 59442 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.mtapco.org Phone: 406-622-5451 Cell: 406-788-5501 |
